The Republican journal., 1887-01-27
Education.

| more lhcIlileu tO tnOfOuSnneSS Inan InOSe III
the East. l have found many scholars in the
old Pine Tree State who had the name of 90
ing nearly through arithmetic, some of then
several times: and yet they were easily bother
ed under any case in fractions. 1t is the best
policy to master each principle as taken up
and then there will be no occasion to 60 ovel
the same ground the second time except to re-
view. In the new West the tendency is tC
dwell on the common branches of study even
after they are thoroughly comprehended. Some
families in Dakota are Introducing an advanced
system of education at their own expense.
visited the house of banker not long since
and the private instructor had the little girls
about dozen years old, read in Latin, Frencl
and German. They could give the same sen.
tence in the several languages as well as in
| English. Such children, when they reach ma
turity, will have a good idea of the true nature
of language.
As we 90 from place to place we find that
every intelligent man or woman feels the neet
of more knowledge, and yet how few arc
making much eXerton in their research aftel
truth. Nearly every State and Territory in
the Union spends more than million dollar,
| per annum for the advancement of education
and yet how few scholars, or even parents
realize the magnitude of the effort which oul
government is making for the spread of know.
ledge. If each citizen would make half the
effort for the advancement of education that
our government is making we should see grand
results. Few of those parents who are anxious
for their children to get good education are
enough interested to strive to gain knowledge
for themselves. They appreciate education As
Il means of money getting, but fail to realize
that knowledge forms part of that character
which 1t is the object of human life to develop.
The great needs of the country are to cultl.
vate that state of mind which enables its pos
SCISSOR to see the beautiful workings of nature
in the smallest flower which blooms at his feet
as well as in the farthest star which rolls in
space. The thoughts which we cultivate are
too shallow. 1t requires less mental effort to
talk of the weather or of the conduct of our
neishbor> than it does to penetrate the sterner
realms of truth. The life work of the most
noble of our race is at our disposal; and we
may, if we will, profit by their experience and
accomplish more in our short lives for the at
tainment of the grand object of human life
than it was possible for the earlier members OF
our race to accomplish in Il much longer career
upon this earth.
The first requisite for the general diffusion OF
a higher education is, that each one wishing TO
see the world educated, seek knowledge for
himself. Every scholar knows that it is much
easier to prosecute a course of study in the
company of those who are interested in the
acquisition of knowledge than it is in the com
pany of those who are interested in the trivial
affairs of life. The next requisite, after each
one acting up to his own honest convictions, is
mutual search for the best means of obtain
| ing knowledge. 1t is said that Il scholar who
has learned how to study is half educated.
Perhaps we may best get glimpse, not only
of the benefit Of education but of the best
means of obtaining it, by observing the develop
mcnt OF the human mind from its earliest sta ses.
a child who had always been kept in dark
room would have no idea of the beautiful colorS
which are so profu>ely laviShed Throughout.
nature. In this case the sense of sight is not
eyes would be useless when first brought into
the light A child who had always been kept
| in quiet room could not distinguish one word
from another, and if brought up to maturity
isolated from human society, it is doubtful
whether the power of speech could ever be per-
| fectly acquired. 1t is an undi>puted fact that
| the embryotic faculties of the human mind are
| awakened into activity by contact with the eX-
| terror world and that we unconscously mbibe
the civilization and knowledge of our assori-
ates. While we would tank our predecessors
and associates for what they have done for hll-
| manity, the benefit of which we have received
it is not manly in any of us to allow this com,
| mon blessing to flag in our hands. But ought
we not rather, l,y studying the principles which
| have contributed to our well being. to devise
some plan by which the human family may be
raised to higher plane of existence:
| Let no one rest content with the acquire
mcntS of his ancestors or associates, for if
| progress had not been the watchwe:.i of some
energetic souls in all ages of the world, what
would have been the condition OF society to.
| day: In reading the history Of the past. we
| find that society has ever been either on tn,
rise or fall. so that if we do NOT strive to risc
we shall inevitably assume the downward ten.
| dency.
If we will but look into our own soul and
| discover what lies hid in IFS de|ic,te rcresSns
| what wonderful mechanism and what ma@ni-
| into snace anL heholI tho y,me nower ,yhi,.,, !.
manifested i'm our own hein~ ,lisnl,ved On :.
| broader Man in tba ha.ntif, laws ~ th. m;
verse. which ca,,se mmltitujc of worlds n ro
| tooethrr i'm barnonv. if WE viii Jnnt into th.
history of tha nn,la man "f tho ,a,t ,yhn h,~.
| sn4nt their lives for the ,Ivanrnmant nf ,r,,,I
| on the earth. il there nnt enouwh to ,ro,is,
| every energy of the most Indifferent ,nI nrnmnt
them to vigorous efforts in behalf IF knowleI~r
| If can not he denied that thr common srhnol.
| of America are n great hesS;ng to tb, ro,,ntry
| but they need the earnest coonnr,tinn uf III,
peoplc fo render Them still mnre ntiir.nt 4.
| has been already stated an ;ntnrnSt On tn. mari
| of home .ssocintes i favor,hla IN tha ,wour,-,
Of the student. Every chilI shoull he = st,'lrn,
| NOT only for an tho yo.r hnt fn ~, th;. i;fa
| Again. tl,e prriudces and sentiments If IN,
| uronlr are aIontad Inv tho inrnn;nm. tea,hn,
who nnrposes to make tcachin% nr"fnss i,
| a oiyrn localitv hence tIn ;mnnrt,,,,n If a,
elevatrl mhl;,: sentiment i, ra,r,rJ ~ .,,ura
t;ona ,vort 'N ''''''''"' III 'e5'''" ~ '''''''
Therc ,re in overv st,t. pros;.,o,ts of r,,looo,
and Seminaries Via wouII ha whine ~ VI;
,ltttrcnt narts of the ro,,ntry in tha interest
Of their Ipst;tutim and ,hn ca;sn 80 of I hnma,it,, =,
On conl;t;nn that thn;, nnnossar, ~ trar"1;m
getic business man who has not interest enougl
in the cause of education to so one mile tc
Of the ~ raa,e.t noads sno If Ky uips ~ n,'
libraries. Not every individual can afford I,
| he the owner OF q good library, but every toWl